Phi Kappa (Catholic fraternity)

For other uses, see Phi Kappa (disambiguation).

Phi Kappa (ΦΚ) was an American social fraternity founded on October 1, 1889 by a group of Catholic students at Brown University who were refused entrance to other fraternities because of their faith. On April 29, 1959, Phi Kappa merged with a similar fraternity Theta Kappa Phi to form Phi Kappa Theta.

Phi Kappa
ΦΚ
Founded	October 1, 1889; 135 years ago (1889-10-01) Brown University
Type	Social
Former Affiliation	NIC
Status	Merged
Merge Date	April 29, 1959
Successor	Phi Kappa Theta
Emphasis	Catholicism
Scope	National
Motto	Loyalty to God and College
Member badge
Colors	Purple,   White, and   Gold
Flower	Ophelia Rose
Jewel	Amethyst
Publication	Yippa-Yappa    later, The Temple
Chapters	40 installed
Headquarters	United States

History

Phi Kappa originated as a local club for Catholic students at Brown University called Phi Kappa Sigma, meaning "Fraternity of Catholic Students".^[1] Its founders were:^{[1][lower-alpha 1]}

• James E. Brennan
• Thomas P Corcoran
• Edward F. Cunningham
• John J. Fitzgerald
• James M. Gillrain
• Dennis J. Holland
• Joseph Mary Killelea
• Edward S. Kiley
• Joseph Kirwen
• William H. Magill
• Arthur F. McGinn
• Edward DeV. O'Connor
• James E. Smith

From the beginning the organization emphasized loyalty to alma mater and remained a home for Catholic students who were otherwise unable to join other fraternities.^[1][2] Its name was changed to Phi Kappa in 1900 after the discovery of an older society with the same name.^[2] It was incorporated on April 29, 1902 in the State of Rhode Island. This date was celebrated by the fraternity as its Founders Day.^[1]

Expansion was sought out at large schools, and not specifically Catholic institutions. Its Beta chapter was placed at the University of Illinois in 1912 with the adoption of the local Loyola Club. This was soon followed by the Gamma chapter at Penn State in 1913. Many of its chapters came from the absorption of earlier local groups or Catholic clubs.^[2] Phi Kappa joined the North American Interfraternity Conference in 1916.

Phi Kappa went on to form 40 chapters before its merger with Theta Kappa Phi on April 29, 1959, at which time the two Catholic-affinity fraternities formed Phi Kappa Theta.^[1][2] At the time of the merger it was found that, despite the size of both organizations, there were only five schools where both fraternities existed: Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, Missouri and Wisconsin. Phi Kappa has 32 active chapters at the time of the merger.^[2]

Symbols

The badge of Phi Kappa badge was square, situated in a diamond fashion (called a quatrefoil), with amethysts at each corner. The sides were finished with pearls. The Greek letter Κ, etched, was in the center, superimposed by the Greek letter Φ, in plain (Roman) finish.^[3]

Its colors were purple, white, and gold.^[3] The fraternity flower was the "Ophelia Rose".^[3] Its jewel was the amethyst. The fraternity's flag consisted of vertical stripes of purple, white, and gold, with the letter Φ on the purple stripe, the letter Κ was on the gold stripe, and a replica of the pledge pin on the white stripe.^[3] Its motto was "Loyalty to God and College."^[3]

The fraternity's original magazine was first published in 1916. It was called the Yippa-Yappa, after the nickname of the brotherhood during its early days at Brown. Later, it had a quarterly publication called The Temple.^[3] Its other publications included a songbook Manual for Chapter Fellows, a Pledge Manual, and a membership directory.^[3]

Chapters

Following is a list of Phi Kappa chapters.^[1][2]

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status	References
Alpha	October 1, 1889 – 1930	Brown University	Providence, Rhode Island	Inactive	[lower-alpha 2]
Beta	May 27, 1912 – April 29, 1959	University of Illinois	Urbana, Illinois	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 3]
Gamma	November 7, 1913 – April 29, 1959	Pennsylvania State University	University Park, Pennsylvania	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 4]
Delta	March 14, 1914 – 1932; 1947 – April 29, 1959	University of Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 5]
Epsilon	October 2, 1915 – April 29, 1959	University of Kansas	Lawrence, Kansas	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 6]
Zeta	February 11, 1918 – April 29, 1959	Purdue University	West Lafayette, Indiana	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 7]
Eta	January 1, 1919 – April 29, 1959	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 8]
Theta	March 28, 1920 – April 29, 1959	Ohio State University	Columbus, Ohio	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 9]
Iota	April 9, 1921 – April 29, 1959	Kansas State University	Manhattan, Kansas	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 10]
Kappa	July 7, 1922 – 1935; 1948 – April 29, 1959	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 11]
Lambda	January 7, 1922 – April 29, 1959	University of Wisconsin–Madison	Madison, Wisconsin	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 12]
Mu	May 20, 1922 – April 29, 1959	University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 13]
Nu	February 15, 1924 – 1935	University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Inactive	[lower-alpha 14]
Xi	February 15, 1924 – April 29, 1959	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 15]
Omicron	January 31, 1925 – April 29, 1959	University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati, Ohio	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 16]
Pi	February 14, 1925 – 1934	University of Nebraska–Lincoln	Lincoln, Nebraska	Inactive	[lower-alpha 17]
Rho	February 11, 1925 – April 29, 1959	Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 18]
Sigma	May 23, 1925 – April 29, 1959	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, New York	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 19]
Tau	June 13, 1925 – 1935	Syracuse University	Syracuse, New York	Inactive	[lower-alpha 20]
Upsilon	1926–1935	University of Maine	Orono, Maine	Inactive	[lower-alpha 21]
Phi	February 5, 1927 – 1933; 1949 – April 29, 1959	University of Denver	Denver, Colorado	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 22]
Chi	February 9, 1929 – 1933	Bucknell University	Lewisburg, Pennsylvania	Inactive	[lower-alpha 23]
Psi	January 19, 1929 – April 29, 1959	Ohio University	Athens, Ohio	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 24]
Omega	February 1, 1930 – April 29, 1959	Catholic University of America	Washington, D.C.	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 25]
Alpha Alpha	October 14, 1939 – April 29, 1959	Indiana University	Bloomington, Indiana	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 26]
Alpha Beta	May 31, 1941 – April 29, 1959	Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland, Ohio	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 27]
Alpha Gamma colony	1943–194x ?	Trine University	Angola, Indiana	Inactive	[lower-alpha 28][lower-alpha 29]
Alpha Delta	December 1, 1946 – April 29, 1959	Washington State University	Pullman, Washington	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 30]
Alpha Epsilon	November 23, 1947 – April 29, 1959	University of Minnesota	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 31]
Alpha Zeta	October 21, 1950 – April 29, 1959	University of Wyoming	Laramie, Wyoming	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 32]
Alpha Eta	November 25, 1950 – April 29, 1959	Manhattan College	Riverdale, Bronx, New York	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 33]
Alpha Theta	1951 – April 29, 1959	Oregon State University	Corvallis, Oregon	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 34]
Alpha Iota	May 6, 1951 – April 29, 1959	University of Arizona	Tucson, Arizona	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 35]
Alpha Kappa	May 17, 1953 – April 29, 1959	Butler University	Indianapolis, Indiana	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 36]
Alpha Lambda	April 17, 1955 – April 29, 1959	Spring Hill College	Mobile, Alabama	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 37]
Alpha Mu	February 18, 1956 – April 29, 1959	University of Houston	Houston, Texas	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 38]
Alpha Nu	April 8, 1956 – April 29, 1959	Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles, California	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 39]
Alpha Xi	November 24, 1957 – April 29, 1959	Duquesne University	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 40]
Alpha Omicron	1958 – April 29, 1959	Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff, Arizona	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 41]
Alpha Pi	April 5, 1959 – April 29, 1959	University of Texas at Austin	Austin, Texas	Merged (ΦΚΘ)	[lower-alpha 42]

Notes

1. Phi Kappa Theta's History notes nine founders, but Baird's goes on to mention four more. Baird's list is shown here. Three of these men are the first initiates, Magill, Fitzgerald, and Corcoran, with the addition of Kirwen.
2. This chapter was dormant at the time of the merger. It was granted the post-merger name as Rhode Island Alpha chapter of Theta Kappa Phi.
3. This chapter originated as the Loyola Club (local) in 1909. It became the Illinois Beta Delta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
4. This chapter originated as Sigma Phi Delta (local) in 1913. It became the Pennsylvania Beta Gamma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
5. This chapter originated as the Loyola Club (local). It became the Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
6. This chapter originated as the Columbus Club Knights (local) in 1908. It became the Kansas Epsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
7. This chapter originated as the Newman House Club (local) in 1913. It became the Indiana Zeta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
8. This chapter originated as Alpha Epsilon (local) in 1918. It became the Massachusetts Eta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
9. This chapter originated as the Newman Club (local) in 1909. It became the Ohio Gamma Theta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
10. This chapter originated as Phi Gamma (local) in 1919. It became the Kansas Iota chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
11. This chapter originated as the Mercier Club (local) before 1922. It became the Missouri Kappa Upsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
12. This chapter originated as the Mercier Club (local) before 1922. It became the 'Wisconsin Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger, absorbing an existing Theta Kappa Phi colony.
13. This chapter originated as Psi Delta Chi (local) in 1921. It became the Pennsylvania Mu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
14. This chapter originated as the Richard Club (local) in 1922. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became the Michigan Nu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
15. This chapter originated as the American Club (local) in 1920. It became the Iowa Xi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
16. This chapter originated as Pi Alpha Chi (local) in 1923. It became the Ohio Omicron chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
17. This chapter originated as Nu Alpha (local) before 1925. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became the Nebraska Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
18. This chapter originated as Kappa Epsilon (local) in 1923. It became the Pennsylvania Rho chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
19. This chapter originated as Delta Delta (local) in 1923. It became the New York Sigma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
20. This chapter originated as Phi Iota Chi (local) in 1921. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became the New York Tau chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
21. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became the Maine Upsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
22. This chapter originated as Kappa Phi Delta (local) in 1925. It became the Colorado Phi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
23. This chapter originated as Kappa Gamma (local) in 1924. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became the Pennsylvania Chi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
24. This chapter originated as Rho Mu Phi (local) in 1928. It became the Ohio Psi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
25. This chapter originated as the Dod Noon Club (local) in 1921. It became the District of Columbia Omega chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
26. This chapter originated as the Torch and Skull Club (local) in 1937. It became the Indiana Alpha Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
27. This chapter originated as Theta Psi Kappa (local) in 1932. It became the Ohio Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
28. Regarding the Trine (Tri-State) chapter, there was a Catholic club on that campus beginning in 1929. This became a local, ΑΓΩ in 1940, and is listed as the predecessor to the existing ΦΚΘ chapter. However, it may be that this group of Catholic students signed up as a colony with ΦΚ in 1943, a colony that was named but (apparently) never installed as a chapter. Alternatively, that effort may have simply incorporated another set of Catholic students. It's a moot point today, as Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi would merge in 1959 to form Phi Kappa Theta, with a chapter placed on campus in 1966 - chapter records may have further information.
29. This colony was named, but never installed A later chapter of ΦΚΘ was installed in 1966, called Indiana Alpha Gamma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta..
30. This chapter originated as Chi Nu Chi (local) in 1940. It became the Washington Alpha Delta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
31. This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1947. It became the Minnesota Alpha Epsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
32. This chapter originated as Phi Kappa colony in 1949. It became the Wyoming Alpha Zeta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
33. This chapter originated as Gamma Sigma (local) before 1950. It became the New York Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
34. This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1950. It became the Oregon Alpha Theta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
35. This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Kappa (local) in 1950. It became the 'Arizona Alpha Iota chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
36. This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Beta (local) in 1950. It became the 'Indiana Alpha Kappa chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
37. This chapter originated as Sigma Alpha Kappa (local) in 1943. It became the Alabama Alpha Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
38. This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Alpha (local) in 1952. It became the Texas Alpha Mu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
39. This chapter originated as Phi Delta Chi (local) before 1956. It became the California Alpha Nu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
40. This chapter originated as Kappa Sigma Phi (local) in 1924. It became the Pennsylvania Alpha Xi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
41. This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1957. It became the Arizona Alpha Omicron chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
42. This chapter originated as the Catholic Club (local) in 1956. It became the Texas Alpha Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.

References

1. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-15–16. ISBN 978-0963715906.
2. Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 7, 2024) "Phi Kappa" Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed August 14, 2024.
3. Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 727.